By Derek McNaughton, Postmedia News

Originally published: August 23, 2012

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

Nashville, Tenn. — Pickup trucks are no longer trucks. Today’s pickup is almost as luxurious as a Mercedes. It will deliver a ride as smooth as many luxury brands. With four doors, enormous interior space and plenty of cargo capacity, the modern pickup more than meets the needs of most families. No wonder the F-150 and Ram are the two best-selling vehicles in Canada. The pickup has become the new family car.

Chrysler is plenty to blame for this seismic shift and in 2013 will be responsible for even more people fleeing the tyranny of the tiny for the freedom of the full-sized. Its 2013 Ram 1500 delivers such a comfortable ride, comes with such a gorgeous interior and yet still does the many manly things expected of a body-on-frame 4×4 workhorse that it’s difficult not to be seduced by its merits.

The 2013 Ram 1500 will also raise the bar for every pickup on the market not just in fuel economy — the historical bane of the pickup — but in interior space, towing capability and cabin comfort. Something that started as a mild refresh to a Ram design that first appeared in 2009 quickly became, Chrysler says, a pursuit for best-in-class fuel economy and capability.

That pursuit paid off with a remarkable achievement in fuel consumption of 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres in highway driving, thanks to the first ever installation of an eight-speed transmission in a pickup — plus Chrysler’s ubiquitous but much lauded Pentastar 3.6-litre V6. That’s economy nearing hybrid territory.

The TorqueFlite eight-speed isn’t a busybody either, not constantly flirting around with the next gear the way some luxury cars do. Shifts are snappy, smooth and many times imperceptible. Kickdown is faster and more intuitive than the six-speed gearbox. For towing or hauling, the eight-speed is a perfectly natural fit. Now that it’s available, it almost seems surprising that it took this long to get here. The same could be said about the Ram’s new electronic gear shifter — a big rotary aluminum knob to control gear changes, which sits on the dash just above the driver’s right knee. It takes all of about six seconds to get used to it, feels and looks good and frees up substantial real estate in the centre console for storage cubbies.

The eight-speed transmission also makes the best of the Pentastar’s 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, shaving three seconds off the old V6 in zero-to-100-kilometres-an-hour runs. The eight-speed should also significantly trim the thirst of the 5.7-litre Hemi V8, the combination of which will come available in early 2013, gaining as much as a 10% improvement in economy. With 395 hp and 407 lb-ft of torque, the 5.7L VVT V8 continues to feature cylinder shut-off technology, which deactivates four cylinders when full V8 power is not needed. Towing strength is up to 5,216 kilograms on certain models, with a payload maximum of 1,417 kg. The previous 4.7L V8 will continue to be available, but with horsepower figures close to the V6, the Pentastar (or Hemi) may be a more prudent choice.

Also contributing to the greening of the Ram are myriad engineering developments, from electric power steering that now feels much more precise and deliberate (if not overly communicative) to weight-saving frame materials that, depending on the model, cut as much as 56 kg. Aerodynamics have been improved, bringing drag down to 0.36, aided in part by shutters behind the grille that can close when travelling to force air around the truck instead of through the confines of the engine bay. Thermal management — making the oils hotter faster — adds another few percentage points gain, as does better control over fuel delivery so that only the gasoline needed for the demands of the engine is delivered when needed. Factory tonneau covers, wheel-to-wheel tubular side steps (that conveniently aid access into the bed) and start/stop technology on some models also do their part to make for a pickup that’s now as good on gas as many cars and minivans.

Of course, the bonus of a truck is off-road capability. The Ram 1500 will separate itself from the competition with a new optional air suspension. Controlled via buttons on the dash, it has five height settings that can lift the truck up to five centimetres for off-roading or down five cm for cargo loading — or just making it easier to get in and out of. The other benefit is load-levelling capability. The air suspension automatically detects load from a trailer or payload and adjusts the truck’s height accordingly. The ride, even in 4×4 mode, seems as plush as ever, but it stays composed in the corners and under hard braking. Sure, you can feel the weight of the truck now and then, but it may be better than many sedans.

The cabin has been equally massaged to become a comfortable den, as much suited to long road trips as jaunts to the cottage. Wind and engine noise are well contained. With seemingly countless colour, trim and leather choices, the Ram cabin can be outfitted to suit all tastes — there’s even real burled walnut veneer in the Laramie Longhorn harvested, apparently, from old trees in France. The main instrument cluster in the Laramie is a thing of beauty — clear, logical and attractively lit, anchored by a large information centre. A new 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen system in the centre stack of some models is one of the easiest and clearest I have ever used. Large knobs and buttons for most standard controls are still included as backup. Without a doubt, the new Ram has the best interior of any truck on the market.

Outside, the new Ram receives projector headlamps, LED turn signals and LED tail lamps on some models as well as revised front bumper and fog lights. There are new grille designs, new wheel choices and 12 different colours. Storage bins in the rear box are lockable from the key fob and lit. Like its 2012 predecessor, the 2013 Ram 1500 will be available in three cab configurations (two-door regular cab, four-door extended quad cab and four-door crew cab) with three box sizes — 5-foot-7-inch, 6-foot-4-inch and an eight-foot box. The 6-foot-4-inch is now available behind the crew cab. As before, several model packages are available from the ST up to the Laramie Longhorn.

All of this means the new Ram 1500 can be configured to suit not just the traditional, hard-core pickup buyer but families that now want a roomy, comfortable and capable ride.